Written Answers

Monday 3 July 2000

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol related deaths there were for the last year for which figures are available.

Susan Deacon: There were 831 deaths from alcohol related diseases in Scotland in 1998. The provisional total for 1999 was 928.

  The figures cover deaths certified for the following underlying causes (the relevant codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, are given in brackets): alcoholic psychoses (ICD9 291), alcohol dependence syndrome (ICD9 303), non-dependent abuse of alcohol (ICD9 305.0), alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ICD9 425.5) and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis with a mention of alcohol (ICD9 571.0 – 571.3).

Ambulance Service

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to allocate additional funding to the Scottish Ambulance Service in order to reduce on-call working.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Ambulance Service has established a Joint Working Party comprising managers and staff representatives from UNISON and T&G Scotland to consider the implications for the service of the EU Working Time Directive on relief working and on-call arrangements. The funding implications can only be determined when the work of the Joint Working Party is concluded.

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the qualification for free wigs to chemotherapy outpatients as well as inpatients, given the increasing quantity of chemotherapy now carried out on an outpatient basis.

Susan Deacon: It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments that only inpatients should receive medicines and appliances free of charge.

  However, prescription charges are only applied to those who can afford to pay and there is an extensive exemption and reimbursement scheme to protect the most vulnerable patients. Many people qualify for total or partial exemption on low income grounds or because they are in receipt of any number of benefits. The Scottish Executive has no current plans to alter the prescription charge categories.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being proposed to address any delays in diagnosis, receipt of test results and treatment being faced by cancer patients.

Susan Deacon: The Programme for Government sets out the Scottish Executive’s commitment to speed treatment and reduce waiting times.

  Establishing a further 80 one stop clinics (where, if it is practically possible, patients will be assessed, investigated and diagnosed in one day) and redesigning services to improve patient care pathways are just two of the initiatives being pursued to help deliver our pledge.

  Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS and a wide-ranging strategy is being pursued to improve not only the care of patients with cancer but their experiences of that care. The Scottish Cancer Group is working with the Waiting Times Steering Group and the NHSiS to develop meaningful waiting times across the care pathway from referral to treatment, to be delivered from March 2001.

Children's Hearings

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to give increased powers to Children’s Hearings to deal with related family matters affecting the welfare of children referred to them.

Peter Peacock: This does not seem necessary. Parents are an integral part of the process and the hearing takes account of the family context in reaching its decision in respect of the child. This could include action to tackle related family matters.

Children's Hearings

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Children’s Hearings in Glasgow were continued because of (a) non-appearance by a parent or other relevant person, (b) non-appearance by a social worker and (c) non-availability of required reports, showing the figures as a percentage of the total number of social work hearings and for each year since 1996-97.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration is developing a computer database that will be operational from early 2001 and will provide such information for the future.

Community Care

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of its actual spend this year and its projected spend for next year on services for people with severe learning difficulties, including a breakdown by type of service provided.

Iain Gray: Expenditure information does not separate those with "severe" problems from those with lesser needs. The Executive spends about £7.5 million on grants to organisations for people with a learning difficulty or learning disability. Funding for next year will be determined later this year.

  Most services are, however, provided by local authorities or health boards, but they too do not differentiate between severe and other conditions.

  We published on 11 May The Same as You?, which recommends major improvements to both the lifestyles of people with learning disabilities and the services they receive.

Community Care

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the bridging finance for health boards in managing the change from inpatient to care in the community for long-term patients with mental health problems.

Iain Gray: Health boards are expected to plan to meet any necessary bridging costs from within their unified budget.

Council Tax

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider redressing any anomalies in council tax liability for householders in non-permanent homes by adjusting the banding arrangements, by offering appropriate rebates or by any other means.

Mr Jack McConnell: We do not propose any changes to the existing council tax liability or banding arrangements at present.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Chairman of Scottish Opera last met a representative of the Scottish Executive and what items were discussed.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Chairman of the Joint Board of Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera met the Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport on 9 May and the Secretary of Scottish Education Executive Department on 1 June. On both occasions issues relating to the future of Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera were discussed.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the merger of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet and when the last date was on which a report on such progress was made to it by (a) Scottish Opera and (b) Scottish Arts Council.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Progress in developing closer collaboration between Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera at all appropriate levels is monitored by the Scottish Arts Council.

  The Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council briefed Scottish Ministers on progress on 23 May.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still supports a merger between Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet including merging aspects of the servicing and support of the companies and what steps it is taking to ensure that such a merger is concluded within the timescale agreed with it.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive considers that the Joint Board’s plans to extend joint working practices and systems without delay and to the fullest extent practicable is in the best interests of both companies. The Scottish Arts Council is monitoring developments closely.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in formalising policy framework documents with the Scottish Further Education Funding Council, and what is the current status of the policy framework documents with the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has now agreed a Management Statement and Financial Memorandum with the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. The Management Statement outlines the council’s relationship with the Scottish Ministers, and describes the council’s powers, functions and responsibilities. It also provides the broad policy and managerial framework within which the council will operate. The Financial Memorandum sets out the terms and conditions subject to which the Scottish Ministers will make funds available out of monies voted by the Scottish Parliament to the council for the discharge of their functions. Copies of the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

  The Management Statement and the Financial Memorandum of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council have also been revised. Copies of this Management Statement and Financial Memorandum have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Employment

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking either alone or in conjunction with Her Majesty’s Government to advise women employees of their rights to maternity leave, maternity payments and parental leave.

Henry McLeish: Employment rights is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues, including maternity leave, maternity payments and parental leave.

  The Department of Trade and Industry produces a range of guidance material on maternity rights for employers and employees and, on 21 March, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a review looking at the issues surrounding maternity pay and parental leave.

Employment

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking either alone or in conjunction with Her Majesty’s Government to help protect women employees against discriminatory practice during pregnancy and maternity leave and after maternity leave.

Henry McLeish: Employment rights is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues, including issues related to maternity leave.

  The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 provides protection for women employees.

  The Department of Trade and Industry produces a range of guidance material on maternity rights for employers and employees and, on 21 March, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a review looking at the issues surrounding maternity pay and parental leave.

Enterprise

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3702 by Henry McLeish on 27 January 2000, whether it will propose a debate in the Parliament on the burden of regulation, and its associated administration, on business when the first series of meetings which the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning plans to have with businesses is complete, and whether it will publish conclusions reached as a result of the meetings and, if not, why not.

Henry McLeish: I do intend to publish the conclusions of recent meetings between Ministers, the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit and businesses, now that the series is complete. I will discuss with the Minister for the Parliament your suggestion for a debate.

Enterprise

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available to people with disabilities for the purpose of starting a company in the field of e-commerce.

Henry McLeish: The disabled have full access to all the assistance schemes available, and will be given every help to start up a business. There is no extra financial assistance generally available to people with disabilities for the purpose of starting a company in the field of e-commerce. In the Highlands and Islands area disabled people are a priority group for assistance in starting a business through the StartUp programme which provides a fortnightly allowance towards living costs while the business is being established.

Environment

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why Sites of Special Scientific Interest are being created in Arran, Muirkirk, Galloway and elsewhere, encompassing more than 587,000 acres for the protection of Hen Harriers and other raptors, what consideration it gave to the available scientific information and advice in reaching its decision on such designations and what consultation was undertaken.

Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is statutorily responsible for the notification of areas as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It is Scottish Executive policy that SSSIs should normally be notified to protect areas selected as Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive.

  New SSSIs have been notified by SNH in Arran, Muirkirk, Galloway and Tayside to protect proposed Special Protection Areas (SPAs), for a variety of species including hen harriers. The proposed SPAs were identified by SNH using scientific information from a variety of sources and in accordance with published guidelines, which were adopted by Ministers in June 1999. On the basis of SNH's recommendation, I accepted that these areas should be acknowledged as proposed SPAs, and that the owners or tenants of these sites, and other affected interests, should be consulted about their possible classification. Full consultation is undertaken by SNH on all SSSIs and, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, on all SPAs. In some cases, where new SSSI notification is required to underpin a proposed European site, consultations are undertaken simultaneously.

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought legal advice on whether the transitional relief arrangements for non-domestic rates following the 2000 revaluation comply with or breach the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in particular Article One; if so, whether it will place a copy of any such advice received in SPICe; if such advice has not been sought, whether it plans to seek such advice and place it in SPICe when received and, if it has no such plans, why this advice is unnecessary.

Mr Jack McConnell: It is not the practice of the Scottish Executive to disclose whether they have taken legal advice on an issue, nor to disclose the nature of any legal advice received. I am satisfied that there is nothing in the regulations which is incompatible with any legal obligation to which the Executive is subject, including the obligation to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with research into sonic devices to deter dolphins from being caught in fishing nets.

Mr John Home Robertson: Trials involving the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at St. Andrews and the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation are currently underway in the Celtic Sea. These are designed to test under commercial conditions the deterrent effect of a "pinger" on small cetaceans swimming near static fishing nets. So far mainly porpoises rather than dolphins have been encountered but a full report will be submitted to the European Commission, who are funding the project, this summer.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific financial and other types of measures are available to assist fish processors to maintain and develop their businesses both at home and overseas.

Mr John Home Robertson: Financial assistance may be available under the new Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), which we expect to open to applications later this year. Any scheme for processing and marketing will be competitive in nature, predominantly geared toward projects which add value and therefore provide an economic spin-off with the creation of jobs and deliver increased returns in the industry. This priority was highlighted by the industry in the consultation exercise undertaken on the new FIFG programme. Alternatively, with some financial assistance from the Executive or other UK Departments, bodies such as the Sea Fish Industry Authority (SFIA) and Seafood Scotland provide training and other assistance intended to promote best practice throughout the fishing industry, including the processing sector. Advice and assistance are also available from Local Enterprise Companies (LECs).

Genetically Modified Crops

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to monitor those Scottish farms where GM seeds have been accidentally planted.

Ross Finnie: Agricultural Officers of my department will visit farms where affected GM crops have been grown this year.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether exposure to organophosphates can have hazardous health effects.

Susan Deacon: The Independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment reviewed the current evidence on exposure and use of organophosphates and their effects on health. Its report of November 1999 concluded that acute poisoning from organophosphates causes acute ill health with evidence to support long-term symptoms of acute poisoning can occur as nueropsychological abnormalities and periphery neuropathy. The committee also concluded there is insufficient evidence that prolonged low level exposure to organophosphates is hazardous to health.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to achieve 50% fewer deaths from coronary heart disease in the under 75s by 2010.

Susan Deacon: Reducing deaths from coronary heart disease by 50% in the under 75s by 2010 was one of the headline targets set out in the White Paper, Towards a Healthier Scotland . The White Paper, which is available in SPICe, also outlines the main contributory factors for coronary heart disease and stroke – smoking, diet and a lack of physical activity. The White Paper acknowledges the impact of improved diagnosis, disease management, changing lifestyle and life circumstances.

  To promote improvements in these areas a number of initiatives have been taken forward, including the establishment of a demonstration project called "Heart of Scotland", an enhanced health promotion campaign by the Health Education Board for Scotland and the White Paper, Tobacco Kills. In addition to these initiatives, the Coronary Heart Disease Task Force is looking at rehabilitation services and in conjunction with the Waiting Times Support Group, is looking at waiting times for cardiac services with a view to delivering a national waiting time target.

Health

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the availability of palliative care for patients with terminal illnesses who are being cared for within their own homes.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is supportive of the concept of palliative care. All Scottish health boards have developed a palliative care strategy and all Health Improvement Programmes include palliative care as an active component in their health board plans.

  Guidance on good practice in palliative care is set out in a number of key reports produced by the Scottish Partnership Agency for Palliative and Cancer Care (SPA). These include Palliative Cancer Care Guidelines (1994); Core Standards for Specialist Palliative Care (1997) and Palliative Care in Community Hospitals (1998). Quality issues are being addressed at national level through the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland.

  It is for health boards to ensure that the necessary provision is available and it is for the NHS, within the totality of available resources to meet the health costs of that care, wherever it is provided.

  Policy is determined by each Trust, in conjunction with its host health board. Strategic direction is provided nationally by the Scottish Cancer Group and the NHS Management Executive working in close harmony with the Scottish Partnership Agency for Palliative and Cancer Care.

  £17.5 million of National Lottery money is being allocated to Scotland through the National Opportunities Fund over a three-year period for specific initiatives in cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care, including palliative care.

Health

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners died of hypothermia in each health board area in each year since 1992.

Susan Deacon: The information available is given in the following tables. Table A covers all deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the certificate of cause of death; table B is restricted to those where hypothermia was considered to be the underlying cause of death.

  Table A: Deaths of pensioners1 where hypothermia was mentioned on the certificate of cause of death, by health board area

  


 


1992


1993


1994


1995


1996


1997


1998


19992




Scotland


91


112


96


93


79


59


60


61




Argyll & Clyde


10


4


8


7


5


6


4


8




Ayrshire & Arran


5


6


6


9


4


6


6


3




Borders


-


4


1


4


5


1


1


1




Dumfries & Galloway


1


1


1


1


2


-


1


1




Fife


3


8


8


1


4


2


5


3




Forth Valley


4


5


6


6


3


-


2


6




Grampian


6


7


9


5


3


5


1


3




Greater Glasgow


17


35


24


23


19


14


14


16




Highland


3


4


5


8


5


3


5


1




Lanarkshire


5


4


3


4


6


6


5


5




Lothian


21


16


20


15


12


16


9


9




Orkney


2


2


-


-


1


-


-


-




Shetland


1


-


-


1


-


-


-


-




Tayside


10


15


5


8


10


-


7


4




Western Isles


3


1


-


1


-


-


-


1




  Table B: Deaths of pensioners1 where hypothermia was recorded as the underlying cause of death3, by health board area

  


 


1992


1993


1994


1995


1996


1997


1998


19992




Scotland


19


31


28


29


24


16


14


22




Argyll & Clyde


2


-


2


5


1


2


2


4




Ayrshire & Arran


1


3


2


4


2


1


-


-




Borders


-


2


1


-


2


-


1


-




Dumfries & Galloway


-


-


1


-


-


-


-


1




Fife


1


-


1


-


1


-


2


-




Forth Valley


2


1


-


1


2


-


-


1




Grampian


2


2


3


1


2


2


-


1




Greater Glasgow


2


12


8


8


6


6


3


7




Highland


-


1


3


2


-


1


1


-




Lanarkshire


-


-


2


1


2


1


1


4




Lothian


5


7


5


5


4


3


3


3




Orkney


1


-


-


-


-


-


-


-




Shetland


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-




Tayside


1


2


-


2


2


-


1


-




Western Isles


2


1


-


-


-


-


-


1




  Notes:

  1. Men aged 65 and over, women aged 60 and over.

  2. Provisional.

  3. Underlying cause of death ICD9 codes 901 and 988.3.

Housing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the statement in the Ernst & Young report Better Homes, Stronger Communities: A Report on the Key Financial Issues , that a loss of £200 million on the proposed Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer is expected because "the proposed Glasgow Housing Association will not benefit from section 33 VAT shelter available to the council" and whether it has any plans to submit alternative proposals on gains to be had through public housing remaining under Glasgow City Council control in the light of this.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The report refers to a potential VAT liability of £200 million based on the projected capital programme contained in the initial feasibility work. It makes clear that the VAT implications can be properly assessed only once a detailed operating structure is in place. The report also makes clear that VAT considerations arise only because transfer would release substantial new funds of up to £1,600 million for investment to improve Glasgow’s housing. These funds, and the wider benefits of community ownership, would not be available if the houses remained with Glasgow City Council.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are on which Scottish Homes approves appointments to the Tenant Adviser Panel.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In order to be included on Scottish Home’s panel of independent advisors, prospective advisors have to undergo an application and selection process designed to establish that they have the appropriate knowledge, skills and expertise required of them to fulfil their responsibilities in respect of Scottish Homes’ tenants considering transfer proposals.

  Prospective advisers are required to submit information about their professional competence including details of relevant qualifications and experience. They are then invited to an interview where they must make a formal submission based on a real life case study. They are also required to prepare an example of the written communication they might distribute to tenants. Prospective advisers are also tested on their knowledge and understanding of housing management, the legal aspects of stock transfers, finance, communications, building surveying and maintenance. In addition, if prospective advisors intend to use sub-contractors for any aspect of their service, full details have to be supplied along with details of the sub-contractors they might use.

  Information on panel members is updated annually when any requirement for reassessment is considered.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make upward-only clauses for rent reviews illegal and to allow rents and rates to be reduced in line with market trends where appropriate.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has no such plans. Scots commercial law favours a freedom of contract approach in which commercial tenants and landlords can, with professional advice, tailor a lease to suit their own circumstances; clauses, including upward-only clauses, can only be included in a lease if agreed by both parties. The present freedom of contract approach has worked satisfactorily for a long time and it would not be appropriate for the Executive to intervene.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated for training in tenant participation for each of the last three years, broken down by recipient.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A total of £500,000 for a national programme of training in tenant participation was provisionally allocated for the three years 1999-2000 to 2001-02 by the Scottish Executive. No Scottish Office resources had previously been allocated specifically for this purpose. The table shows the grants paid to individual recipients in the year 1999-2000 and the amounts awarded so far in the current financial year.

  


Organisation


Amount Paid 1999-2000


Amount Awarded 
2000-01




Positive Action in Housing


£25,250


£31,656




Chartered Institute of Housing


£18,500


£31,500




Tenants Information Service


£52,820


£40,350




Tenant Participation Advisory 
Service


£25,000


£20,783




Tenant Involvement in the Islands, 
Grampian and Highland Rural Areas


£12,300


£38,000




Total for Year


£133,870


£162,289

Influenza

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has commissioned or is aware of since 1997 on the various responses to winter flu outbreaks throughout Europe by member states; what future monitoring of international comparisons it intends to make and whether those comparisons will be published.

Susan Deacon: The Executive has not commissioned any such analysis directly. We are however aware of the following research:

  Fedson DS et al vaccination in 22 developed countries: and update to 1995 – published in the journal Vaccine 1997 (vol. 15 No 14 1506-1511).

  There are no plans to initiate any specific research in this area. However, The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) which provides advice to the Scottish Executive on such matters, acts as point of contact for the European Influenza Surveillance System (EISS) which allows collation and comparison of the behaviour of influenza outbreaks across Europe. The international behaviour of influenza outbreaks is also monitored by SCIEH through information circulated by the World Health Organization. SCIEH also holds information on influenza vaccination policies for European countries.

Information Technology

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) public librarians, (b) school librarians and (c) teachers have been trained to date through the New Opportunities Fund ICT training initiative.

Rhona Brankin: The ICT training programmes for public librarians, school librarians and teachers are funded and administered by the New Opportunities Fund with the aim of completing all the programmes by the end of 2002. The programme for teachers and school librarians was launched in April 1999, and for public library staff in August 1999. Information on the numbers trained are not held centrally but are available from the Scottish office of the New Opportunities Fund.

Information Technology

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many public libraries have been linked to the People’s Network since the launch of the initiative, how many remain to be linked up and what the target date is for completion of that process.

Rhona Brankin: The development of the network is being funded with £11.5 million from the New Opportunity Fund’s Community Access to Lifelong Learning (CALL) programme with the aim of linking all public libraries to the Network by the end of 2002. This element of the CALL programme was launched on 22 May 2000. However, a number of public libraries are already linked to the Internet through using their own resources and central funding from the Public Libraries IT Challenge Fund.

  The remaining £11.5 million available in the CALL programme will be allocated by the New Opportunities Fund to projects which support access to lifelong learning through information and communications technology in learning centres; and which establish community grids for learning.

Information Technology

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remaining £11.5 million in the New Opportunities Fund for ICT will be used to fund.

Rhona Brankin: Information on this matter is included in my reply to question S1W-8093.

Information Technology

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether training for library services through the New Opportunities Fund began in April 2000 and what targets have been set for ICT training of school and public librarians and teachers.

Rhona Brankin: Information on this matter is included in my reply to question S1W-8092.

Investors in People

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of Investors in People Programme spending by it and its agencies for each of the past two years and the current year, broken down by local enterprise company area.

Henry McLeish: This information is not held centrally.

Local Government

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed by local authorities in each of the last five years, broken down by each local authority.

Mr Frank McAveety: In the table below, data is provided for the period since the present structure of 32 unitary local authorities came into being. Data for the predecessor regional and district authorities is not directly comparable.

  Number of full-time equivalent staff1 for Scottish local authorities, December 1996 to September 1999.

  Council   December 19962   December 1997   December 1998   September 19993 Aberdeen City   8,472   8,462   8,589   8,798 Aberdeenshire   8,547   7,647   7,743   7,812 Angus   3,934   3,979   4,059   4,165 Argyll & Bute   3,834   3,811   3,931   3,889 Clackmannanshire   2,082   1,946   1,983   1,931 Dumfries & Galloway   5,480   5,458   5,402   5,303 Dundee City   7,683   7,619   7,627   7,280 East Ayrshire   5,149   4,952   4,868   4,978 East Dunbartonshire   3,937   3,830   3,915   4,027 East Lothian   3,082   3,329   3,281   3,386 East Renfrewshire   2,750   2,896   2,919   3,135 Edinburgh, City of   16,202   15,568   15,095   15,070 Eilean Siar   1,556   1,541   1,586   1,591 Falkirk   5,611   5,549   5,291   5,301 Fife   15,263   14,813   15,048   15,127 Glasgow City   33,201   31,839   30,611   30,874 Highland   8,378   8,251   8,120   8,438 Inverclyde   3,933   3,848   3,782   3,855 Midlothian   3,020   3,070   2,957   3,166 Moray   3,300   2,990   3,203   3,170 North Ayrshire   5,539   5,426   5,400   5,233 North Lanarkshire   13,645   13,813   13,449   13,378 Orkney Islands   1,206   1,249   1,297   1,333 Perth & Kinross   4,552   4,448   4,475   4,447 Renfrewshire   7,642   7,088   7,047   7,101 Scottish Borders   3,791   3,764   3,925   3,977 Shetland Islands   2,030   2,020   2,063   2,073 South Ayrshire   4,622   4,464   4,588   4,791 South Lanarkshire   12,262   11,895   11,918   12,142 Stirling   3,667   3,552   3,365   3,283 West Dunbartonshire   4,831   4,646   4,701   4,800 West Lothian   5,636   5,746   5,685   5,689

  Source: Drawn from local authority staffing surveys compiled jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

  Notes:

  1. Figures for full-time equivalent staff exclude staff in fire services, police services, Bridge Joint Boards and Valuation Joint Boards. Where authorities provide services through joint arrangements, the staff delivering the service may be grouped with the staff of a lead authority.

  2. Following local government reorganisation some councils encountered problems in producing reliable data.

  3. The latest quarter for which information is available.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority is expected to raise in non-domestic rates in 2000-01.

Mr Jack McConnell: Figures showing the amounts of non-domestic rate income collected by local authorities for 2000-01 are not yet available. The figures for 1998-99, the most recent available, are shown in the following table.

  


Council


NDR
Collected


Council


NDR
Collected




Aberdeen City


101,318,328


Highland


53,075,991




Aberdeenshire


49,466,288


Inverclyde*


16,455,511




Angus


19,568,920


Midlothian


12,994,938




Argyll & Bute


28,299,338


Moray


19,672,200




Clackmannanshire


10,495,047


North Ayrshire


36,854,012




Dumfries & Galloway


31,789,211


North Lanarkshire


68,164,545




Dundee City


42,071,071


Orkney


6,209,691




East Ayrshire


21,876,160


Perth & Kinross


32,924,976




East Dunbartonshire


14,797,539


Renfrewshire*


46,023,557




East Lothian


24,911,565


Scottish Borders


18,548,281




East Renfrewshire


10,126,348


Shetland


12,351,868




Edinburgh, City of


186,151,389


South Ayrshire


28,296,107




Eilean Siar


4,632,944


South Lanarkshire


69,496,242




Falkirk


44,466,106


Stirling


26,955,963




Fife


101,297,014


West Dunbartonshire*


22,396,416




Glasgow City


231,326,059


West Lothian


44,096,478




  * Audited figures not yet available – figures based on most recent estimate of NDR collected by councils.

Local Government Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rate poundage for non-domestic rates for the year 2000-01 could have been set at 41.6 pence whilst maintaining the total income raised from non-domestic rates at the 1999-2000 level in real terms.

Mr Jack McConnell: No. The rate poundage figure for 2000-01 of 45.8 pence was set to ensure that the total tax income from non-domestic rates, after appeals, remained unchanged in real terms as a result of the 2000 Revaluation of non-domestic rates. A paper detailing this calculation was made available on 17 January 2000 and is available from SPICe.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care intends to reply to my letters of 24 March 2000 and 8 May 2000 regarding my constituent Anne McKay.

Iain Gray: I replied to the letters on 28 June 2000.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why NHSiS expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Greater Glasgow Health Board fell, in real terms, from £13.556 million in 1994-95 to £3.547 million in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Greater Glasgow Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the reduction of capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment in the NHSiS, in real terms, from £55.129 million in 1994-95 to £25.022 million in 1998-99 has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Capital investment in the NHS in Scotland continues to increase from £136 million in 1998-99 to £179 million in 2000-01, rising further to £194 million in 2001-02.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Lothian Health Board fell, in real terms, from £8.054 million in 1994-95 to £2.559 million in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Lothian Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Forth Valley Health Board fell, in real terms, from £2.043 million in 1994-95 to £555,000 in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Forth Valley Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Highland Health Board fell, in real terms, from £2.695 million in 1994-95 to £747,000 in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Highland Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Lanarkshire Health Board fell, in real terms, from £6.263 million in 1994-95 to £3.823 million in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Lanarkshire Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Tayside Health Board fell, in real terms, from £5.829 million in 1994-95 to £3.050 million in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Tayside Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Argyll and Clyde Health Board fell, in real terms, from £5.893 million in 1994-95 to £1.671 million in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Argyll and Clyde Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Dumfries and Galloway Health Board fell, in real terms, from £1.401 million in 1994-95 to £579,000 in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Dumfries and Galloway Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Fife Health Board fell, in real terms, from £1.356 million in 1994-95 to £951,000 in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Fife Health Board.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Shetland Health Board fell, in real terms, from £493,000 in 1994-95 to £53,000 in 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Further information on local spending decisions can be obtained from Shetland Health Board.

NHS Funding

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its intention to allocate further money to the NHSiS only if targets relating to waiting times and lists and efficiency improvements, amongst others, are achieved, in the light of present demands on the NHS.

Susan Deacon: Health boards have received allocations for the current year for their hospital and community health services and prescribed drugs totalling £4.1 billion. In addition, health boards will be able to spend the £60 million announced on 2 May once they have developed satisfactory plans showing how the resources will contribute to meeting waiting list and waiting times targets, reducing delayed discharges and dealing with peak pressures.

  Plans have now been submitted by all health boards and are currently being assessed by the Executive.

NHS Waiting Times

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time between initial consultation and second appointment is for outpatients attending the psychiatric unit of Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride.

Susan Deacon: This information is available from Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust.

Organ Transplants

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the future of the Heart Transplant Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary is secure and when it will make a statement confirming its continued operation.

Susan Deacon: I made the Scottish Executive’s position on the Scottish Heart Transplant Unit clear during the debate on Wednesday 24 May.

Organ Transplants

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or plans to take, to protect the future of the Scottish Cardio-Pulmonary Transplant Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer I gave on 16 May to question S1W-6511.

Organ Transplants

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was aware that one surgeon was in place at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Heart Transplant Unit and what action it has taken to address the situation.

Susan Deacon: As I made clear during the debate on 24 May, the Scottish Executive, the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and National Services Division had been concerned for some time about the surgical complement of the Scottish Heart Transplant Unit. The Trust had been trying for about 18 months to recruit a second transplant surgeon.

Organ Transplants

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why no contingency plan was in place for the operation of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Heart Transplant Unit.

Susan Deacon: I refer to my answer to question S1W-6958 for information about the steps which were being taken to deal with the surgical complement of the unit.

  As a general contingency arrangement, the National Services Division (NSD) of the Common Services Agency has Service Agreements with each of the transplant units in England to cover any access required by Scottish residents.

Organ Transplants

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the present position is at the Scottish Cardiopulmonary Transplant Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary regarding the lack of consultant cover for those on the active list.

Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the speech I made during the debate on the Scottish Heart Transplant Unit on Wednesday 24 May.

Organ Transplants

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate any cancellations of post-operative patient appointments at the Scottish Cardiac Transplant Patient Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many post-operative patient appointments at the Scottish Cardiac Transplant Patient Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have been cancelled in the years 1998, 1999 and in the current year to date, and what were the reasons for the cancellations.

Susan Deacon: Post-operative clinics are a vital part of the heart transplant service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. No post-operative patient appointments are actually cancelled but some are from time to time rescheduled. Patients would be given as much notice of a re-arranged appointment as possible, and would be offered an early alternative appointment. Sometimes unforeseen circumstances, such as emergency surgery requiring the consultant, can lead to delays in clinics, but the unit provides appropriate nursing and medical input to allow patients to be seen.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many serving police officers there were, broken down by rank and police force, in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested, taken from Annual Statistical Returns from forces, is set out in the following tables:

  Police Strength by Rank and Force

  As at 31 December 1994 (see note below)

  


Force


Chief
Const-able


Deputy
Chief
Constable


Assistant
Chief
Constable


Chief
Supt


Supt


Chief
Inspector


Inspector


Sergeant


Constable


Total




Central


1


1


0


3


6


13


32


102


496


654




D&G


1


2


0


1


5


7


19


61


294


390




Fife


1


1


1


4


6


13


39


112


612


789




Grampian


1


1


1


7


12


20


69


181


899


1,191




L&B


1


1


2


12


24


43


123


360


1,990


2,556




Northern


1


1


0


4


4


15


25


109


484


643




Strathclyde


1


1


6


33


78


122


362


977


5,423


7,003




Tayside


1


1


1


5


12


16


59


158


834


1,087




Total


8


9


11


69


147


249


728


2,060


11,032


14,313




  As at 31 March 1996

  


Force


Chief
Const-able


Assistant
Chief
Constable


Supt


Chief
Inspector


Inspector


Sergeant


Constable


Total




Central


1


1


9


13


32


104


497


657




D&G


1


1


6


7


19


60


296


390




Fife


1


2


10


11


39


111


616


790




Grampian


1


2


19


21


69


186


874


1,172




L&B


1


3


34


43


122


358


1,973


2,534




Northern


1


1


8


13


27


106


484


640




Strathclyde


1


7


112


115


354


972


5,655


7,216




Tayside


1


2


13


14


50


159


874


1,113




Total


8


19


211


237


712


2,056


11,269


14,512




  As at 31 March 1997

  


Force


Chief
Constable


Assistant
Chief
Constable


Supt


Chief
Inspector


Inspector


Sergeant


Constable


Total




Central


1


1


8


12


33


101


530


686




D&G


1


1


6


7


19


65


312


411




Fife


1


2


9


11


41


111


657


832




Grampian


1


2


16


19


69


181


885


1,173




L&B


1


3


36


41


125


361


2,124


2,691




Northern


1


1


8


12


27


108


492


649




Strathclyde


1


7


114


110


357


980


5,662


7,231




Tayside


1


2


14


14


51


165


869


1,116




Total


8


19


211


226


722


2,072


11,531


14,789




  As at 31 March 1998

  


Force


Chief
Constable


Assistant
Chief
Constable


Supt


Chief
Inspector


Inspector


Sergeant


Constable


Total




Central


1


1


10


7


34


103


547


703




D&G


1


1


6


8


20


68


335


439




Fife


1


2


9


14


36


110


683


855




Grampian


1


3


16


20


68


183


902


1,193




L&B


1


3


37


40


127


368


2,115


2,691




Northern


1


1


7


13


26


108


501


657




Strathclyde


1


7


118


102


374


975


5,722


7,299




Tayside


1


2


14


13


53


163


897


1,143




Total


8


20


217


217


738


2,078


11,702


14,980




  As at 31 March 1999

  


Force


Chief
Constable


Assistant
Chief
Constable


Supt


Chief
Inspector


Inspector


Sergeant


Constable


Total




Central


1


1


9


9


34


101


564


719




D&G


1


2


5


8


20


70


331


437




Fife


1


2


9


12


36


109


677


846




Grampian


1


1


17


20


70


187


953


1,249




L&B


1


3


36


37


127


361


2,050


2,615




Northern


1


1


8


13


31


107


499


660




Strathclyde


1


7


105


103


373


974


5,572


7,135




Tayside


1


2


14


12


59


157


904


1,149




Total


8


19


203


214


750


2,066


11,550


14,810




  Figures by rank and force are collected annually by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary. Until 31 December 1994 figures were collected on a calendar year basis but are now collected annually at 31 March. Figures for 31 March 2000 are not yet available.

  The ranks of Deputy Chief Constable and Chief Superintendent were abolished on 1 April 1996.

Police

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what definition is used by police authorities to determine what constitutes a "drugs related death".

Angus MacKay: The definition used by forces is the one contained in the Drugs Task Force Report 1994 which states "a death is defined as a drug-related death where there is prima facie evidence of a fatal overdose of controlled drugs. Such evidence would be recent drug misuse, for example, controlled drugs and/or a hypodermic syringe found in close proximity to the body and/or the person is known to the police as a drugs misuser, although not necessarily a notified addict".

Prison Service

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trained dogs are available to the Scottish Prison Service to search premises and visitors for drugs.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is considered confidential as, for security reasons, the SPS does not publicise its drugs interdiction procedures.

Prison Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what profit is made by each prison involved in the manufacture of goods for commercial enterprises.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  It is not possible to provide this information as a contract for a particular product may be manufactured across a number of prisons. The price charged for goods manufactured in prisons is set to cover the costs of manufacture and to include an element which contributes to the cost of running the industries function within prisons.

  The purpose of providing work to prisoners is not profit-driven. Section 68 of the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 1994 requires every prisoner to work in prison. In addition, research shows that a prisoner gaining employment on release is less likely to re-offend. The work secured provides prisoners with the opportunity to gain experience of working and to develop a work ethic. Industries work very closely with education and programming to address offending behaviour and improve the employability of offenders.

Prison Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to which part of the prisons budget the profit made from the manufacture of goods in prisons for commercial enterprises goes.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  In accordance with Government Accounting, the income from the sale of prison manufactured products is classified as Appropriation in Aid and the various costs of producing the goods are classified under Current Expenditure.

Public/Private Partnerships

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards have been implemented to ensure that firms debarred from being awarded World Bank financed contracts because they have been found guilty of fraud and corruption are also barred from being awarded Public/Private Partnership (PPP) contracts and whether any safeguards are in place to ensure that the directors of such firms are also debarred from involvement in PPP contracts either individually or as directors of other firms.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive carries out a number of checks on firms bidding for major contracts, including PPPs. These include asking specific questions relating to criminal convictions. In addition, all contracts, including PPP's, have contractual provisions which allow for termination should evidence arise that the contractor, or any of its employees, has offered corrupt gifts or committed an act of fraud during the contract.

  DTI also maintain a Register of Companies and Register of Disqualified Directors, which are updated regularly. The Companies House website has an online search facility for these for use by the public. There is a further safeguard in the case of PPP through the due diligence process conducted by the lenders.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the report by the Scott Wilson Group investigating the case for closure of up to one in ten Scottish railway stations; what representations it will make with regard to the closure of these railway stations in Scotland, and by what means it will ascertain the effect which closure would have on the local community served by such stations.

Sarah Boyack: This paper was an independent initiative of Scott Wilson (Rail), transport consultants. The Scottish Executive did not commission it and had no involvement in its preparation.

  The closure of railways and railway stations is a reserved matter. However, in preparing our directions and guidance for the replacement of the Scottish franchise, the Scottish Executive will build on the Franchising Director’s insistence that current levels of service should be secured as a minimum.

Right to Buy

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposals on the right to buy for housing association tenants will affect all current housing association tenants.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In my answer to Karen Whitefield on 15 June (question S1W-7983) I set out the conclusions reached by the Executive following consultation on the paper A New Single Tenancy for Scotland: Rights, Obligations and Opportunities . This confirmed that the Executive plans to legislate to introduce a common set of enhanced statutory rights for all tenants of social landlords.

  Specifically in relation to the right to buy for current housing association tenants, our conclusion is that those tenants who currently have this right should continue to be able to exercise it on existing terms and conditions. Similarly the current provisions for exemption from the right to buy for housing associations with charitable status will continue and accommodation within sheltered housing and other group housing schemes for persons with particular needs will also be exempt.

  We have given careful consideration to the representations made by housing associations in relation to those houses let since 1989 on assured tenancies which do not give tenants a right to buy. To ensure that the new tenancy arrangements do not create financial difficulties for housing associations, these houses will be exempt from the right to buy for a period of 10 years unless housing associations themselves decide to allow relevant tenants to have the new "modernised" right to buy (details of which were set out in my recent answer to Karen Whitefield).

  We have also concluded that in some areas, to be designated by local authorities with the approval of Scottish Ministers as "pressured" because of the difficulties in meeting the demand for new socially rented houses, the right to buy could be suspended for all new and re-let housing association and council housing for a specific period.

  Further details of our proposals will be set out in the forthcoming Consultation Paper on the Housing Bill which I plan to issue shortly.

Roads

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail further the commitments for the A720 inherited from Lothian Regional Council, as identified on page 96 of Investing in You , and quantify the level of these commitments for the period from 1998-99 to 2001-02.

Sarah Boyack: Following the trunking of the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass on 1 April 1996, the Secretary of State, in accordance with section 112 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, became liable for payment of principal, interest and management fees on a portion of a £49 million covenant taken out with the Royal Bank of Canada by Lothian Regional Council. An 82.9% proportion of the covenant was used to construct the bypass. The responsibility passed to the Scottish Executive on 1 July 1999 and it is therefore liable for the proportion of the outstanding repayments until 28 February 2003.

  Payments in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 were £3,438,708 and £3,272,078 respectively. Estimated payments for 2000-01 and 2001-02 are £3,081,536 and £2,896,714 respectively.

Roads

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3205 by Sarah Boyack on 13 January 2000, whether the land in question has now been successfully purchased, and whether it will state the costs incurred in purchasing the land and for legal, professional and other procedural purposes.

Sarah Boyack: The Compulsory Purchase Orders and General Vesting Declarations to complete the statutory procedure referred to in my previous answer (S1W-3205) have now been made. Ownership and entry to the land is now expected to be taken during this summer with the exception of Eastwood Golf Club’s land where entry will be in July 2002. This extension is to permit alternative golf holes to be brought into operation. Negotiations to acquire some additional plots of land not in the Compulsory Purchase Order are also underway.

  The level of compensation to be paid for the numerous plots of land covered by the Compulsory Purchase Order has not been settled. Compulsory purchase powers permit entry to be taken to land and for construction to be undertaken whilst compensation is being negotiated.

Roads

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date Midlothian Council was sent the last payment from the money allocated through the Transport Challenge Fund for the development of the A701 upgrade proposals.

Sarah Boyack: The most recent allocation of £850,000 capital consent via the Transport Challenge Funding was issued to Midlothian Council on 28 March 2000.

Safety

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to bring in legislation to cover the training and supervision of voluntary first aiders with respect to the provision of first aid at public events.

Susan Deacon: UK health and safety legislation places a duty on the organisers of such events to ensure that they discharge fully their responsibilities, including provision of appropriate first aid and medical cover. Advice on the appropriate competence of first aid providers at public events is available to event organisers within guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive. The Scottish Executive has no plans to legislate.

Smoking

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to reduce the proportion of 12-15 years olds who smoke from 14% to 11% by 2010.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to reduce the number of women who smoke during pregnancy from 29% to 20% by 2010.

Susan Deacon: Headline targets of achieving these reductions were established in the White Paper, Towards a Healthier Scotland.  The White Paper also outlines measures to be taken in Scotland to suit particular Scottish circumstances but which are in line with the UK White Paper, Smoking Kills,  published in December 1998. Both of these documents are available in SPICe (Bib. numbers 3036 and 6728 respectively). A wide range of measures are currently in place, or in development and, as a result of the recent boost in funding announced in the budget, we will be stepping up our anti-smoking measures. I am currently considering the most effective ways to do this.

Student Finance

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to exempt, in the calculation of income support, sums paid under the Access Fund.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with her Majesty's Government on a range of issues including the interface between the student support and benefits systems.

Teachers

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources will be available to fund the outcome of any negotiations with the teaching unions as a result of the McCrone Report into teachers’ pay and conditions.

Mr Sam Galbraith: When I established the committee I indicated that I would undertake consultation with relevant parties before decisions were made. No decisions on the funding of the McCrone recommendations are possible prior to the outcome of those discussions.

Teachers

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the timetable for the implementation of the findings of the McCrone Committee into teachers’ pay and conditions.

Mr Sam Galbraith: When I established the committee I made clear that I intended to consult widely on the committee’s recommendations with the relevant parties. I outlined the detail of that process in question S1W-7089 on 24 May. The first stage of meetings and discussions has begun and will continue through the summer. In the autumn I intend to chair the Implementation Group which will have all the key parties represented. My aim remains to make progress towards an agreement for implementation from April 2001.

Tourism

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much tourism and associated revenues in Scotland increased as a result of England hosting the European Championships in 1996.

Henry McLeish: No statistics are available on the direct impact of these championships on Scottish tourism.

Tourism

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments other than Development are consulted when considering applications for the erection of brown signs on trunk roads and motorways and in particular what role the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department plays.

Sarah Boyack: Decisions taken by officials in the Scottish Executive reflect the policies of all Scottish Ministers.

Tourism

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of tourism spending by it and its agencies for each of the past two years and the current year, broken down by local enterprise company area.

Henry McLeish: The breakdown of tourism spend by the Scottish Tourist Board and by the Area Tourist Boards by LEC area is not available. Spend by the Enterprise Networks is estimated to be as follows:

  

 

1998-99
£


1999-2000
£


2000-01
£




LECs in SE area*:




SE Dunbartonshire


2,446,750


2,575,750


7,056,409




SE Dumfries and Galloway


626,102


534,695


794,004




SE Ayrshire


987,750


922,000


1,444,000




SE Fife


2,062,750


975,956


1,604,000




SE Forth Valley


1,486,751


2,843,901


3,784,020




SE Glasgow


975,798


2,129,453


9,077,362




SE Grampian


950,500


1,016,454


1,092,000




SE Lanarkshire


1,449,000


631,000


1,458,000




SE Edinburgh and Lothian


5,318,850


8,314,722


5,463,400




SE Renfrewshire


1,388,000


877,956


561,660




SE Borders


846,500


457,000


520,000




SE Tayside


809,805


1,940,500


1,404,200




LECs in HIE area:




Shetland Enterprise


492,698


236,045


200,000




Orkney Enterprise


610,000


580,000


450,000




Western Isles Enterprise


1,159,695


740,131


140,000




Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise


853,922


549,522


500,000




Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise


919,629


670,423


565,000




Ross and Cromarty Enterprise


195,800


385,200


300,000




Inverness and Nairn Enterprise


471,669


81,495


100,000




Moray, Badenoch & Strathspey 
Enterprise


702,400


*7,329,565


100,000




Lochaber Enterprise Ltd


435,000


361,500


358,000




Argyll & the Islands Enterprise


644,000


662,000


650,000



 
 
 
 



Scottish Enterprise National


877,350


682,292


557,000




Highlands and Islands Enterprise


280,000


400,000


200,000




  * Includes approval for Aviemore Development.

  Note: In the HIE area, spend on general business development and training programmes that benefit the tourism industry is also included.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the study commissioned from the University of Newcastle by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions into motorists’ driving habits and their awareness of public transport alternatives and, if so, whether the research has any implications for its proposed Integrated Transport Bill.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is aware of this research project and will study its detailed findings with interest in the context of raising awareness of alternative modes of travel. However, the Integrated Transport Bill and the Executive’s wider transport policies include a flexible range of measures for achieving their objectives and so are not dependent on any one single approach.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1415 by Henry McLeish on 10 October 1999, whether it will consider endorsing or promoting all or any of the said devices as part of its strategy for reducing emissions from motor vehicles to improve air quality.

Henry McLeish: No.

Water Authorities

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on salary levels and benefit packages for the chairmen of the water authorities.

Sarah Boyack: Water authority Chairs are remunerated at a level appropriate for the responsibilities, duties and time commitment which they are required to take on.

Water Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of financial assistance will be given towards investment in the water industry other than borrowing consent under the External Finance Limits in the next financial year.

Sarah Boyack: £9.2 million is set aside for grant assistance to the water authorities in 2000-01. Like borrowing, the uptake of this grant is set against the authorities’ External Finance Limits.

Working Groups

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish, with regard to its Common Repairs Working Group, the criteria for selecting the individual members of the working group, its budget allocation and details of the number of times it has met so far.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive invited representatives from various organisations representing landlord, tenant and housing professional interests to act as an informal working group to identify gaps in the current factoring process. The group has met three times so far. It does not have a budget allocation.

Working Groups

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the task forces, working groups, review groups, action groups and similar committees established by the Minister for Justice and his deputy Minister since 6 May 1999 and when each group is expected to publish its report.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is listed in the following table:

  


Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) 
Act National Implementation Steering Group


Announced on 9 December 1999


No report will be published




Scottish Charity Law Review Commission


Announced on 29 March 2000


Will report within 12 months




Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Steering 
Group


DFM announced on 20 July 1999 
that a group would be set up.


Revised Action Plan will be published 
in 2001




Part V of the Police Act 1997 
Voluntary Issues Review Group


Announced on 7 October 1999


By End 2000




Cross-Parliamentary Working Group 
on a Replacement Diligence to Poinding and Sale


Invitations to the Group were 
issued on 7 June. Membership still to be finalised. 


No later than December 2001

Working Groups

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the individual members, including their remuneration and expenses, of the Strategic Issues Joint Working Group, together with the criteria for selecting members of the group, its budget allocation and the number of times it has met so far.

Mr Jack McConnell: The membership of the Strategic Issues Joint Working Group comprises officials from local government and the Scottish Executive. The local government representatives were nominated by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Executive representatives are officials responsible for local government finance. No remuneration or expenses are paid to members and the group has no separate budget.

  The working group has met four times, on 29 March, 27 April, 23 May and 20 June. The group has been set up to identify practical improvements to the local government finance system to be implemented in time for the 2001-02 settlement.

Working Groups

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the individual members, including their remuneration and expenses, of the "It Pays to Pay" Implementation Working Group, together with the criteria for selecting members of the group, its budget allocation and the number of times it has met so far.

Mr Jack McConnell: The membership of the "It Pays to Pay" Implementation Group comprises officials from local government, CoSLA and the Scottish Executive. The local government representatives are finance officials nominated by CoSLA and the Scottish Executive representatives are officials responsible for council tax policy and Civil Justice. No remuneration or expenses are paid to members and the group has no separate budget.

  The working group has met three times, on 3 April, 4 May and 19 June.